Originally Posted by
Jackonicko
Is the F-35 going to remain viable for much longer?
It's terribly bad form to blow one's own trumpet, but as the author of this piece, I was fascinated by what 'Smithy' says - he is probably Britain's leading fifth gen expert, having been an F-22 and F-35 pilot and an F-35 tactics development desk officer and capability manager, and now working on GCAP with Leonardo.
{you didn't need to repost all of the pictures}
It's no coincidence that the US, Britain, Italy, Japan and Korea are all already looking beyond F-35A - developing new sixth gen platforms and systems of systems is not easy, or cheap, and were F-35 adequate, no-one would be spending money doing so.
Mr Smith is undoubtedly in a good position to know, but I dare say his public pronouncements maybe heavily influenced by the commercial interests of his current employer Leonardo, who have a vested interest in suggesting the GCAP aircraft program and purchase is vital as F-35 is yesterdays aircraft.
Perhaps I am too cynical.